So, what did your sister do after that???

It sounds like some settings need to be tweaked (like for Safari, Check if the “Block Pop-ups” and “Fraudulent Website Warning” toggles are enabled).

How to stop browsers from opening vpnprotectplus.com
April 10, 2020
https://www.pcrisk.com/removal-guides/16847-vpnprotectplus-com-pop-up-scam-mac

That looks really sneaky. It even has an image of the Mac’s “Update” icon on it. I understand that the Web sites one visits need to know at least which browser one is using. Not sure the sites also need to know what type of computer one is using. Either way, the only defense is to be weary of sudden notices abut imminent dire danger showing up onscreen and, if they do so in a browser window, hovering the cursor over any likely URL link to see if it is for real or not.

Hello!

Nothing to worry about, Apple users! This is just a website presenting “Apple Notification” or “System Notification”. They look like from the Apple (iOS System) device, but they are actually not. Just close the webpage and those notifications will go away.

Cheers!
DS

I also cover a similar story, but for Mac users, here:

https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/dealing-with-apple-support-scams/

“..and Apple devices are not immune….”

They are not immune if you install Microsoft’s bloat, like Edge.
This wouldn’t have happened using Safari.

Big brother is watchig. Hope you do not annoy big brother, so he wont pursue you.
I thought, that its common thing for website to detect what system/browser you are running. Thats why webpage automatically adjusts resolution when viewing on PC or mobile phone. Notice, that if you enter some URL on a mobile device, you are automatically redirected to m.address.com instead of address.com in sake of viewing properly.

I saw these scam popups before, but I had that much common sense, that I closed the tab and never clicked any link. Its obvious that website notification does not equal notification from iOS itself.
Its just immitation of iOS notification.

If notification comes from my iOS, I would tap on that.
If some webpage announces I have virus/I won million canadian dollars, I would never click that button. Its about users atention too.

I’ve been thinking about an extension that fakes the user agent string. There’s a tech youtuber I keep an eye on that uses it, he argues that you can use it to “blend in” a lot more easily with the common user (who, I imagine, is on Windows 10 and Chrome). If you’re, say, on Linux and Firefox, that’s two minorities and you’re gonna stand out.

User Agent String is a furphy, you can get all the info you want from a bit of javascript.
https://webkay.robinlinus.com/

cheers, Paul

Ascaris wrote:

All browsers use Safari under the surface in iOS

No, they don’t. All iOS browsers use only iOS WebKit framework and WebKit Javascript all the rest is each browser’s own features, otherwise why should anyone develop a browser for iOS ?

I am currently using Chrome on Win 7 Desktop (no battery). With User Agent Smart Switcher running and CyDec Anti-Fingerprinting, the result on the above website is confusing.

Software
Operating System
Linux x86_64
Browser
Yandex 20.11.3.179.01
Browser Plugins

Chrome PDF Plugin
Chrome PDF Viewer
Native Client
right level job door research house
face head
force child
education member student
water money word
area story mother door
game level minute morning kid door
eye question education
health home health

Prevention:
To prevent your browser from leaking information about your software use NoScript.

computer Hardware

CPU:
8 Cores

Display: 1913 x 1075 – 24bits/pixel

Battery
Charging: not charging

Battery Level: 40%

Time remaining: 0.57h

Chrome PDF plugins may be a  giveaway. User Smart Agent Switcher seemed to play havoc with Captcha. There was a message in Russian and no image. I needed to disable, and restart Chrome (for me, that means emptying cache, as well). Refreshing AskWoody with extensions off did not seem to refresh the Captcha.

Moderator Note: Edit to remove HTML. Please use the “Text” tab in the entry box when you copy/paste.

That is the biggest drawback to the browsers on portable devices, that they don’t allow extensions. Since several yrs ago, on the desktop, when I started running an ad blocker & a pop up blocker on Chrome. I don’t see trash like that anymore. And my surfing is much more secure & much less annoying. The pop up blocker that I run, you can even request to the developers that they make an anti adblock script for a site that is telling you to turn off your adblocker. I have done this before and the developer’s scripts work fantastically. This is great to have if you go to sites that engage in malvertising. When you use a portable browser, you are going on the internet naked & you might as well be using IE6. That is why I have very little use for surfing on a phone or tablet.

They know what you are running

False. I use agent string changer since running Windows XP. Just like your site, it should see it as Windows 10. Other sites have to change to Windows 7, 8, Mac, Android phone, Google Bot, etc….Have a whole list which site will work with what agent string….